Study on the Electrical Conductivity of Au Nanoparticle／Chloroform and Toluene Suspensions

Au nanoparticles capped by hexadecanethiol and dodecanethiol were chemically synthesized. The characteristics of electrical conductivity for the capped nanoparticles dissolved in chloroform and toluene solvents were investigated. The electrical conductivity of the samples is conspicuously Au nanoparticle concentration dependent.The results show that a rapid conductivity increases when the nanoparticle concentration increases from low value to a moderate value of 5.47 g/L and 11.22 g/L, which is capped by hexadecanethiol and dodecanethiol in chloroform solvent, and 2. 77 g/L and 7. 88 g/L in toluene solvent. The room-temperature dc conductivity σdc of Au na noparticle capped by hexadecanethiol is smaller than that capped by dodecanethiol in the whole range of Au nanoparticle concentrations. The conductivity of Au nanoparticle suspensions increases almost linearly in the temperature range in above two solvents.     

Field emission from carbon nanotube/tin composite

Powder metallurgy was used to fabricate carbon nanotube (CNT) field emission cathodes. CNTs and tin (Sn) powder were blended, compacted and sintered. After polishing and etching, CNTs were exposed and protruded from the metal surface. CNTs were embedded into the Sn matrix, which acted as stable field emitters. The J-E curves show excellent field emission properties, such as low turn-on field of 2.8 V/μm, high emission current density and good current stability.